Thermal-Decomposition of Adsorbed Beta-Carotene and Chlorophyll on Acid-Activated Clay

Beta-Carotene and chlorophyll have been adsorbed from solution in benzene and hexane onto acid-activated clay. Five steps were observed during the thermal decomposition of beta-carotene and chlorophyll on acid-activated clays. The adsorbed solvents desorbed during the first step and the adsorbed materials decomposed during the dehydroxylation of the clay. The activation energies of all the steps have been determined.